AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons
Since the newly amended Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) came into operation on August 1, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has stepped up patrols and enforcement operations with a view to combatting illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons.
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AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The newly amended Ordinance expands the prohibition on feeding wild animals to cover feral pigeons. The maximum penalty for illegal feeding is increased from a fine of $10,000 to a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year with a fixed penalty of $5,000 introduced. The scope of enforcement officers is also expanded. In the first month after the new prohibition came into operation (i.e. between August 1 to August 31), enforcement officers first gave a verbal warning to any person who was found to engage in illegal feeding of wild animals or feral pigeons. From September 1 onwards, enforcement officers would take immediate enforcement action without verbal warning against any person in breach of the feeding ban.
The latest prohibition on feeding wild animals and feral pigeons is applicable to all places in Hong Kong, including private places or premises. The AFCD has stepped up patrols throughout Hong Kong according to intelligence and reports, especially at locations with previous records of illegal feeding activities, and takes appropriate enforcement action as necessary, inclusive of weekends, public holidays and non-office hours. In addition, the AFCD has also established an interdepartmental working group on feeding ban enforcement with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Housing Department, and has conducted a series of joint operations with relevant departments with a view to combatting illegal feeding activities.
Between August 1 and yesterday (October 1), the AFCD and relevant departments issued fixed penalty notices at various locations including those with previous records of illegal feeding activities, such as Yuen Long Nullah, the vicinity of Hang Hau MTR Station, Kam Shan Country Park and Lion Rock Country Park, to a total of 39 offenders engaged in illegal feeding. Details are as follows:
Number of fixed penalty notices issued |
Illegal feeding of monkeys |
19 |
Illegal feeding of wild pigs |
4 |
Illegal feeding of feral pigeons or wild birds |
16 |
A spokesman for the AFCD said, "Feeding wild animals and feral pigeons brings negative impacts on animals themselves and public health, such as leading animals to rely on human feeding and the congregation of animals near residential areas, which causes a nuisance to members of the public and increases the risk of disease transmission. The leftover feeds may also cause environmental hygiene issues."
The AFCD has launched a series of publicity and education activities, including producing online publicity videos; placing advertisements; sending staff to arrange seminars in schools, elderly centres and housing estates; setting up educational booths; displaying banners and posters; and distributing relevant leaflets at locations with previous records of illegal feeding activities. In addition, the AFCD has jointly conducted publicity and education activities with members of the Legislative Council and District Council in various districts to bring the message of "All For No Feeding" into the community.
The spokesman reiterated that feeding wild animals and feral pigeons is an offence. The Government will continue to step up efforts in combatting illegal feeding activities. Members of the public may report any suspected illegal feeding activities by calling 1823.
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
AFCD steps up enforcement to combat illegal feeding of wild animals and feral pigeons Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CFS to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand.
The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall.
Product details are as follows:
Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)
Batch number: 51670742F2
Best-before date: June 16, 2027
Place of Origin: Germany
"The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said.
Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:
Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)
Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com
WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)
Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink
Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows:
Kowloon Services Counter
Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)
Contact number: 3996 8196
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)
Hong Kong Services Counter
Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)
Contact number: 3996 8197
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)
The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance.
Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.
Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.
"The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said.
Source: AI-found images
